Chin-rest for dental operating-chairs



(No Model.) 7 v Q J P. ADAMS. CHIN BEST FOR DENTAL OPERATING-GHAIRS- INo. 571,209. Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

Ww. ham/(M 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FFADAVMS, on WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHIN-REST FOR DENTAL OPERATING-CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,209, datedNovemberlo, 1896.

Application filed March 16, 1896. Serial No. 583,303. (No model.)

' Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Chin-Rest for DentalOperating-Chairs, of which the following, together with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains tomake and use the same.

In dental operations, such as filling the teeth of the lower jaw, itbecomes quite tiresome for the patient to keep the jaw in open andsteady position and to resist the downward pressureof the instruments asapplied for packing the filling, while in many instances the operator iscompelled to employ one hand for steadying the jaw of his patient whileperforming the required operation with the other single-handed.

The object of the present invention is to obviate the above-notedconditions and to provide an efficient and convenient means forsupporting the chin of the patient while undergoing operations upon thelower jaw in dentistry or surgical treatment; also, to provide a restfor the purpose named, having a form or supporter adapted to fit beneaththe chin with a universally-adjustable attachment joining the same to anarm or rod connected with or carried upon the operatingchair, as morefully hereinafter explained. These objects I attain by the mechanismillustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe device or dental chin-rest embodying my invention as applied to use.Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a front view of the chin-piece andthe universally-adjustable joint connecting it to the supporting-rod,and Fig. 4 is a front view of a chin-piece as attached directly to theend of the supporting-rod.

Referring to parts, Adenotes the back of a dental operating-chair orsurgical chair.

l3 indicates an attaching plate or bracket that is rigidlyfixed to thechair at convenient position and having thereon a suitable socket B,adapted for upholding a stem 0, having fixed upon its top end anadjusting and clamping joint 0, which joint can be of any suitablewell-known kind. The stem or rod extended wings 5, adapted to fitbeneath the 7 lower jaw of a person and to thus provide a rest orsupport for the open jaw, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The fore part of therod D is bent or offset laterally, as at D to reach beneath the chin ofa person occupying the chair, and the chin-piece F is preferablyconnected to the end of the rod by a universallyadjustable joint I orball-and-socket device, (see Fig. 3,) having means, as the thumbscrew J,for firmly clamping the socket upon the ball for retaining thechin-piecein adj ustment, as may be required to accommodate the position of thepatient in any operation.

The rod D is properly bent or curved to pass over the shoulder of thepatient or disposed in a manner to reach from the place of its supportto the chin-piece without interferein g with the person of the patientor with the operator.

In some instances the chin-piece F can, if desired, be attached directlyto the rod D, as in Fig. l, without employinga flexible oruniversally-adjustable joint, but the jointed construction is generallymore efficient and desirable.

The top and edges of the chin-piece are properly padded or cushioned,and the whole exterior or upper surface 4. thereof is best covered withsheet-rubber or suitable soft waterproof material to prevent absorptionof moisture or saliva and to render itsusceptible of ready and completecleansing after its use or whenever desired.

By the use of the chin-rest, as hereinbefore described, the chin of thepatient .can rest passively upon the chin-pieceF with the sides of thejaw supported by the wings 5. The

strain is thereby taken from the facial muscles and fatigue relieved,while the chin-rest gives ample support for resisting the downwardpressures exerted in applying the instruments in setting the fillings,but is not so chin-piece adapted to fit beneath the jaw, the

supporting rod suitably bent to pass the shoulder of the occupant, auniversal adj ustinointconnecting said chin-piece with said rod, theclamping and adjusting joint carrying said rod, and a socket andfastening device for upholding and confining the stem of said clamping-joint, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, of a dental or surgical operating-chair, achin-piece adapted to underlie the jaw of the patient, a rod havingsupport in connection with said chair, and attached to said chin-pieceby an adjusting and clamping joint, for retaining said chin-piece inrelation to the rod, and means for securing and adjusting the rod inrelation to the chair, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a chin-rest for dental operations upon the lower jaw; thecombination, of the chinpiece having backWardly-curved wings adapted tounderlie the jaw, the supporter-rod connected with said chin-piece by anadjustable joint, means for holding said joint, the clamping andadjusting joint carrying said rod, the attaching-socket having theclamping-joint stem mounted therein, and the thumb-screw or means fortightening said stem in the socket, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 12th day of March, A. D. 1896.

JOHN F. ADAMS.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. I-I. BURLEIG-H, SIMON E. KING.

